The National tribune., 1887-06-02

another piece Of woods TO our right. Here we
met large force Of our cavalry preparing for an
attack. The enemy had found Us out, however.
and shellod the woods TO such a degree that we
were compelled TO leave it. Our own battery of
four pieces came into action also.
Before us was large field. The enemy oc-
cupied the woods bordering it on the opposite
side, and had breastworks all along the edge of
il. About midway between us and the enemy.
not much more than a hundred yards from us,
was an oak fence This fence kept us out Of
sight Of the enemy, but it likewise hindered
US from making successful charge Oh them.
We disnounted aud led our horses into
lower piece of the field, where the latter were
out of reach of the bullets. My company was
ordered 10 pull down that fence and use the
rails to barricade road on the right Of us.
We advanced, crawling on our knees and
hands, 10 the fence, and taking the rails down
one by one we passed them along toward the
right, where they were used TO build the barri-
cade. / was about the third or fourth man
from the road. II is hardly necessary to state
that we were sharply watched 10y the enemy,
aud the least exposure on our part was fatal.
In one rail that was passing three bullets hit
at once while / held it. All this time the
charges OF eight cannon crossed both ways
Immediately over our heads.
Opposite to where we were barricading the
road the encmy's infantry prepared for a charge
on us. At this moment our bugle called US
back.
We had barely reached our horses when Col.
Avery put his case around his pipe, drew his
saber. and thpndcred with his immense voice:
Tenth New rk-atten-cho-a-o /!
! Dra-w-sa-ber! Forward-1ro-ott!"
Then the bugler sounded the charge. The
bands began 10 play in our rear. Cannon roared
and shells scrceched all around us. On the spot
where the fence had been we encountered the
rebel cavalry face 10 face horse 10 horse in open
feld-a fair trial! What a terrible mass we
were. Cutting to right and left against each
| other and our horses as well. Some took hold
| Of their antagonists with their hands TO pull
/ them out of their saddles. Even our horses
/ appeared 10 make il AN individual affair among
/ themselves, for they kicked up in front and bit
/ at each other. How long we were such a solid
mass, almost wedged together and pressed
against from all sides by the horses that one
could almost have broken his legs ] DO not
know. Riderless horses with bloody saddles
became more and more frequent. One man
after another disappeared, and the line of bat
tie became so mixed with empty horses that
one could not reach his antagonist with the
saber, and reYolyers and carbines were used.
" Stoop down as much as possible in a saber
fight was our golden rule, and So with as lit
tie exposure as possible, we got in our work
There that bearded fellow who just takes
aim you make a motion to fire at him, but be-
fore your carbine is on your cheek he drops his
piece, his body falls forward, then TO the right,
from his horse, which takes fright turns around
aud runs away, dragging its helpless rider,
whose foot is caught in the stirrup, along on
the ground. Somebody else served him before
you could. You look now for another target,
but as soon as your shooting tells" you are
served the same way.
Reinlorcements reached the enemy from the
right coming out of the woods They made a
fierce attack TO break our line, but we resisted
the strain. Now they wavered their ranks
became weaker. They looked toward the right
then 10 the left, and at this critical moment our
reserve came up. This decided the day. The
rebels broke, their bugles sounded the retreat
and we answered il with hurrah!
We followed them closely, but nearing theil
. breastworks on the edge Of the woods we re
ceiyod vollcy from the infantry behind IL
) that, no doubt, injured many in rear of us, bu
, in us there was no stop. We jumped clear ove
the works, and many of the men behind it wer,
killed by the ho0is Of our horses.s The blood o
. men aud horses killed, very likely by our bat
! terry, had collected in little pools and in hors
aud wagon tracks, and actually splashed int,
our faces when our horses hOols touched tn
ground on the other side.
I Inside the works we separated by companie
and followed the retreating enemy, takini
many prisoners. This was at sundown. Gu
squadron was riding along farm road, OF
the left Of ns woods, on the right cornfcld
: both sides Of the road fenced with a high so
Q called "suake-fence." We had already picke
J. up quite a number OF slghtly-wounded Con
u federates. They belonged to Gen. Ewell'
s. famous Corps.
o We noticed tall infantryman inside of
/ crook Of the fence. His head was bandaget
10 .Gen. Crook says in his report: "Davies
r. Brigade made one OF the finest charges Of th
;, war, riding over and capturing the works aud the
> defenders. The enemy the right, who wei
" thus cut of from retreat surrendered and weI
taken by different parties"